Down With Webster Pack The Sound Academy (Photos)

I was a little surprised to see that two amazing indie rock bands, We Are The Take and Inward Eye, were going to be opening for Down With Webster. In some ways it makes sense, since Down With Webster incorporates some serious rock into their visually hip-hop based show, but I just wasn't sure that the two opening bands would appeal to the Down With Webster audience as well as they appeal to me. But looking around, it was clear I wasn't the only one in the audience that was a fan of all three bands.

Down With Webster

I realize that, in many ways, I fall way outside the norm of the average Down With Webster fan, but it's only fair since Down With Webster falls outside of my normal listening habits. However, with their recently released EP, Time To Win Vol. 1, their music can be heard throughout my house much more often. Such a unique mix of rock and hip-hop played by skilled musicians - it just works so well. Watching them grow their fan base over the past year has been satisfying. A headlining show at the Sound Academy, in its largest configuration, is pretty amazing, but it would be hard for me to say I'm surprised - after seeing them play during CMW '09, I said I thought they will eventually be playing stadiums. I still see that potential, and at this point, they are on the right path.

Inward Eye

Has it really been six months since I last sawInward Eye? Yes, yes it has. I like listening to their 2009 debut full-length album, Throwing Bricks Instead Of Kisses, but the material is just so much more impressive when played live. The songs just lend themselves to a concert format, and the band really knows how to present the music in a way that puts a grin on my face. Anders is a complete fiend on the the drums, Dave isn't the kind of frontman to just stand in place, he move around the stage dragging his mic stand with him, and watching Kyle abuse his guitar doesn't grow old on me. So good.

We Are The Take

It's always good to see We Are The Take perform, and even though this wasn't their crowd, they received a pretty warm reception, especially up near the front. The sound/mixing seemed a little off, but that didn't prevent the band members from putting on their usual good performance. The band released an EP in 2009 (that I included in my Seven Great EPs from 2009 article), but I know they are sitting on a series of other recordings waiting for the right opportunity to release them. I hope that opportunity comes this year because their EP just isn't enough.